Picky Eater

Last summer my son had just turned five years old, a whole hand, and he had learned to write all of his letters at preschool. He went through a stage where he wanted to write letters and words all of the time and needed my husband or me to spell everything. I loved this stage, no matter how short lived.

One evening my husband was outside grilling hamburgers and the baby and I were inside getting the sides and toppings ready for dinner. Our son had complained about dinner because we have hamburgers a lot in the summer and at the time he really didn't like them. He was sitting on the outside steps with a pencil and paper asking my husband to spell I…don't…care…about…nothing…you…make. After spelling his dad casually asked him what he planned to do with the note to which came a swift reply, "I'm giving it to mom because she knows I don't like cheeseburgers and we are having them anyway." Trying his best not to laugh, my husband told him that it wasn't really a nice note.

Our son sat for a few minutes and resumed asking his dad to spell more words..I…love…you. To make the note nice. As soon as he was finished with this round, he came into the kitchen with the note; my smiling husband a few steps behind. I'll never forget reading the note out loud. "I don't care about nothing you make I love you." I bent down, hugged my son, told him I loved him too, and praised his handwriting. He walked back outside and we couldn't stop laughing. Innocent honesty.

Fast forward eight months and today he saw a four-layer chocolate cake which prompted him to ask if I could make this for his birthday. Inwardly I smiled and said we usually buy a cake so he can have cool decorations and get the kind he wants. He responded with "well, I think I'd like you just to make me a cake instead this year."

One day he'll realize how special it was for me and I know it won't be long until I make something that he doesn't care for but I'll bask in the compliment for as long as possible.

Chicks Dig It

After preschool my son wanted to play outside for a little bit even though it was a windy, 35 degrees. Knowing he's tired of being stuck inside I said just make sure you come in when you get cold. I started to prepare dinner and I heard the front door open and shut, so he must be coming inside. I called for him to walk into the kitchen but didn't hear any noise so I walked into the living room, he wasn't there, I walked to the front door and saw his coat and shoes. The baby was asleep so I went up to his room thinking maybe he went up there. No kiddo in the house. I walked outside and he's still outside with roller skates and a sweatshirt. I told him it's freezing and he needs a coat, I walked back in to get him a coat and he met me on the porch. He needed his tennis shoes, and he informed me that he started at the top of the driveway and rode his bike down the hill without braking or wrecking. I told him to be careful because he doesn't want to hurt himself. 

And the response….

Singing 

"Pain hurts, but only for a minute

Yeah life is short so go on and live it

'Cause the chicks dig it"

(We listen to a lot of country in this house, so if you don't know the song by Chris Cagle - Chicks Dig It, I encourage you to listen to the whole song.)

He laughed and ran off down the driveway for his bike. 

Playing in the mulch.

Grocery Store Chaos

First let me say, I hate grocery shopping, it's not just that I dislike it, I hate it and always have. My mom always told me not to use the word 'hate' but I can't help it in this case. No matter what store you shop in you have to 1. pick up item, 2. place item in cart, 3. place item on belt for cashier to scan and place in bag, 4. place bag in cart, 5. place bags in car and drive home, 6. haul everything into house, 7. put all the items away. For someone that hates this process, these steps seem to drag on and on. Yes, I understand that no matter what you shop for even if it's clothes it's the same type of process, but that's not so dreadful.

I also generally grocery shop with two little kids at one of the busiest stores in the area, and yes as much as I dislike Walmart, it's where we usually shop. I'm sure everyone has seen an email or a link that has pictures of the crazily dressed Walmart shoppers and laughed along with me. For the record, I don't dress like that! While I may prefer shopping at our local Giant Eagle, I refuse to pay 15%-20% more for groceries. Plus I like the one-stop shopping. I have two little kids that don't want to go into several stores so mom can get the best deal here and there.

My husband now and then goes with us depending on his schedule which makes it a little easier but also more difficult because he along with our son loves the cookie aisle and freezer section. I seem to find all sorts of things when we place the items on the belt to check out. He on the other hand, likes to grocery shop. Wondering why he doesn't do the grocery shopping by himself? Well that's easy! The one time we tried this, he brought home things from his favorite sections - we had three different kinds of cookies, chips, and tons of freezer stuff. I was in shock putting everything away and asked if he purchased any 'real food?!' I'll never forget the proud reply, "well I did get you an onion." That's the last time he went major grocery shopping. (Years ago.)

*Quick note - major grocery shopping means a lot of groceries, not just running in to get milk, diapers, or just a few items.

I try to use coupons but it's hard to find really great ones and it's even more difficult to shop smart and price conscious when shopping with a baby that's trying to eat the coupons, the list, or whatever she can get her hands on and with a 5-year-old holding up cookies, juice, cake, icing, and yelling, "hey mom look at this, can we get it?" The food companies know how to make the packaging pop at a kids eye level. I recommend never letting kids or husbands go shopping on an empty stomach because this just adds to the craziness. My son gets so excited with his dad in the freezer section that he screams and laughs because he can talk his dad into just about everything that mom doesn't normally get and this is on a full stomach. Can you imagine an empty stomach?

Normally, I try to go in the morning on a weekend when the shelves are stocked and things aren't so hectic but this past weekend, well I didn't time it right. We had things to do in the morning and it was just after lunch that the baby and I ventured out to shop. (My husband and son decided to sit this one out.) I knew before I left that it was going to be a mess but I didn't have a choice, we unfortunately needed groceries. On the way there, I decided that I'd make the best of it. I'd smile no matter what and not get upset. Mental preparation for grocery shopping. Ha!

Anyway, we were just beginning the process and I hear a woman screaming at another, "I'm not making a scene, but if you want me too, I WILL MAKE A SCENE!" I shook my head and kept moving. Down another aisle and a mother snapped at her teenage daughter to watch what she was doing before she hit someone. The store was beyond busy. The daughter pushed the cart away and yelled that her mother can just do it herself. A couple more aisles and a husband and wife were fighting over who knows what but yanking the cart back and forth. I smiled and shook my head at all of it because I knew I should have went first thing in the morning.

My little girl was fantastic on this trip, sometimes I don't get as lucky but she was a happy little girl, maybe it had something to do with her momma laughing at all the craziness. The only things she wanted to do was frantically try to take my shopping list out of my hand, pull at my shirt, pull at my hair, dig in my purse, throw the water bottle out of the cart seven different times, and push buttons on my keys.

We left the store without being yelled at, without getting hit by another cart, and without getting the horrible looks if she was crying. Upon arriving home, my husband and son met me downstairs to bring in all the groceries which was incredibly sweet. On the last trip up the steps, my husband said I didn't get much. I laughed because I considered it a success that I got out of the store with something. I even got an onion!

Little Girl, No Shoes!

No shoes, no socks, happy girl. 

Momma got her cute shoes. 

Calling someone to say she's mad about the cute shoes. 

Kicked off the cute shoes, happy girl again!

Shortbread Tarts with Berries & Cream

My husband has been requesting that I make my shortbread tarts with berries and cream for a long time, well not consistently requesting but now and then he'll say, "do you remember those cookies with the lemon cream and berries? Maybe you can make those sometime soon." The reason I haven't made them, they are extremely fussy, but they are very good. However, he hadn't mentioned the tarts in a long time, but my cousin mentioned that she made chocolate chip shortbread cookies and I thought, I'll surprise him when he gets home from work with the ones he likes. For my cousin's cookies, she posted the picture and recipe to her Pinterest page, I will eventually try those too.

*As a side note - I can't keep a surprise, I give Christmas gifts early, I give all gifts early if I can. I get too excited and want the person receiving the surprise or gift to know as soon as possible. So I told my husband that I made them well before he walked through the door.

I made my lemon cream filling first and completely forgot to take pictures of the process. But the filling is very easy…cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest to balance everything out.

To start the shortbread tarts, cream butter and powdered sugar together in a mixer.

Then beat in vanilla. I love the smell of vanilla and for some reason I tend to smile when I add this ingredient, it's warming.

In a separate bowl combine flour, cornstarch, and a little bit of salt.

Mix until just combined, making sure not to over do it. It's going to be sticky.

Okay here's the first fussy part. The mix is sticky and it's a mini muffin pan. Place teaspoon size amounts into the pan and press the dough up the sides with an indent in the center. It can be a little frustrating.

Once you are satisfied with the way they look, place the pan in the fridge for 10 minutes.

Bake for about 18 minutes, but halfway through the baking process, prick the middle so they don't puff up. Check again in 5 minutes, prick if needed.

See…fussy!

Let the tarts cool before removing from pan.

I decided to use blackberries and strawberries for the top.

A little advice - don't use strawberries. The blackberries work so much better with the lemon.

Shortbread Tarts with Berries & Cream
(makes 30 tarts)

Tart Ingredients
1 c. butter, room temperature
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 T. cornstarch
1/8 tsp. salt

To Make
Cream butter and sugar in mixer (approx 2 min.). Beat in vanilla. Add flour, cornstarch, and salt. Mix just until incorporated. Divide dough and place in greased mini muffin pans. Press dough up sides, indent in the center. Place plan in fridge for 10 minutes. Bake at 325 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes (lightly brown). Halfway through baking time prick with a fork. Check in 5 minutes, prick if the tarts have puffed up. Place on wire rack to cool.

Filling Ingredients
8 oz. cream cheese, soft
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1/3 c. lemon juice (fresh)
lemon zest from one lemon
1 tsp. vanilla

To Make
In mixer beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add condensed milk, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla until smooth. Refrigerate until serving time.

Fill tarts and top with berries.